Luka Bloom is regarded as one of Ireland’s best-respected contemporary folk artists. Having produced 20 albums since the 1970s, he continues to push the boundaries of what his music can do, and he is still making provocative, poetic music that delves deep into the intricacies of the human soul and pulls out the nuggets and puts them in a song.

His new album Refuge was released earlier this month and is his most personal to date. In his own words:

"Sometimes records are planned for months or even years. Sometimes records sneak up on you. Autumn\Winter 2016 the world seemed to become a loud, brutal place. People hurting from war, homelessness, climate change…

"People respond in different ways. I sought refuge in songs. I wrote some, I learned some and I visited some old ones. After a few months of quiet work, I felt the need to put these songs out into the world. At first I heard choirs and strings and trumpets. In the end I decided to keep it raw, and simple.

"And here it is – Refuge. 11 songs, recorded in the amazing studio that is Lettercollum Recording Studio, with John Fitzgerald and mastered by my old friend Brian Masterson."

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